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A question no journalist would think of asking protesters elsewhere

Aug 31, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
On Friday 24th August, about 7:30 p.m., I watched a Call-In Programme aired on RCA 8 called ‘Let’s Talk Essequibo’ and hosted by Mr. Romel Roopnarine.  I would be surprised if that programme is being paid for by taxpayers’ money, because if you are going to have person or persons hosting programmes of such nature and those that are similar in style – where the host is clearly doing the bidding of a particular political party – then the airtime and all other expenses that are incurred must be borne by that party.
However, I met Mr. Roopnarine the following morning at Supenaam, and I reminded him of a request I made to have me as a guest on one of his programmes, because I believe that I know the arithmetic of Region Two, far more than he does, and have the experience of being a second-term Councillor representing the Alliance for Change at what is supposed to be the highest decision-making forum for the region, the Regional Democratic Council.
I can be of great assistance to him (Mr. Roopnarine) the host, and also the viewers and callers, but from his utterances my request may not be granted. He also indicated to me that the programme and also other expenses this are associated with same are borne by him.  Well at the time of writing I am not in a position to dispute that.
Mr. Roopnarine spent more than three quarters of his time talking about the Linden protest and the protesters, and the Opposition Parties whom he tried to demonize, but was misguided enough not to have said a word indicating to viewers that during that protest three protesters, namely Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis, were shot and killed and more than twenty others wounded, while they were exercising their constitutional rights.
He was critical of the A.F.C. Leader Mr. Ramjattan, whom he felt should not have gone to Linden before, during or after the protest. Well the A.F.C. has a history of being in solidarity with any group of protesters in any region once we are convinced that the protest is legal, peaceful and that it is for a just cause.
I can remember that after the shooting to death and injuries to several persons, there were some incidents that were totally uncalled for, including the burning of the school which, according to Mr. Sharma Solomon on Plain Talk (Sunday 28.08.2012) were done by rogue elements who were identified and handed over to the Police
The A.F.C. Leader, along with senior party officials, visited Linden and condemned those actions of destruction to property – using strong language – and denounced any illegal action.  This and similar actions by the combined opposition were never mentioned.
All Mr. Roopnarine was stressing was that the protesters were ill-advised by certain persons, and that the protest should not have been. And then as if to rub salt into the wounds of the people of Linden, the question he has for them is, if they are better off now than before the protest began.  Well he could not have insulted them more than that.
I have followed the events as they unfold in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya and many other countries, mainly in Europe, and such a question, no reporter or journalist would think of asking protesters.
Archie Cordis
A.F.C.  Councillor
Region 2

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